Students at Hopkins Public Schools in Minnesota are among a growing number of Black students across the United States who have been targeted with racist text messages, sparking concerns over the rise of hate-driven incidents in schools.

The Hopkins Public Schools district alerted families via email after Black middle school students reported receiving racist texts on their personal devices. The district’s superintendent, Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, described the messages as deeply troubling, stating that the texts referenced “slavery and plantations” and came from an unidentified source.

“We learned that Black students … received racist text messages referencing slavery and plantations, coming from an unidentified source,” Dr. Mhiripiri-Reed wrote in the district’s email, expressing concern over the targeted harassment.

In her communication, the superintendent acknowledged the broader societal climate, noting that the recent political environment, particularly the outcome of the election, had contributed to an uptick in racism, homophobia, and sexism in school communities nationwide, including in Hopkins. The district reiterated its commitment to creating a safe, inclusive environment for all students, regardless of background.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison also weighed in on the disturbing incident, confirming that his office had been alerted to similar racist text messages sent to students in the state. Ellison strongly condemned the messages, calling them “disturbing, threatening, and have no place in our society.”

“My mission is to ensure every Minnesotan can live with dignity, safety and respect, and I have no tolerance whatsoever for harassment and hate,” Ellison said in a statement. He encouraged recipients of such messages to report the incidents through the state’s official complaint portal at www.ag.state.mn.us/office/complaint.asp.

The troubling trend of racist messages has not been confined to Minnesota. Similar incidents have been reported in states including Alabama, Ohio, and South Carolina, leading the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to open a nationwide investigation into the matter. The FBI confirmed its awareness of the offensive messages and stated that it was coordinating with the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal agencies to address the issue.

“The FBI is aware of the offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country and is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter,” the FBI said in a post on social media.

The surge in such hateful incidents has raised alarms among parents, educators, and civil rights advocates, who are calling for stronger measures to combat online harassment and racism. As investigations continue, the victims of these messages are encouraged to come forward and report any further instances of hate speech.